Chapter 43 - Saintess Investiture Ceremony
Chapter 43 - Saintess Investiture Ceremony
The monster raid that had swept through Sanctuary Sola was successfully concluded thanks to the desperate defensive line built by the Church and the Imperial Knights.
The dungeon was destroyed by Liesel, captain of the Jeriel Knights, before it could be completed, and the remaining monsters were mopped up by the knights and mercenaries.
This terrorist incident, which could have been recorded as the worst disaster, miraculously saw minimal damage, ending with only some church members and knights sustaining injuries.
The sanctuary, which had nearly ended in tragedy, was now facing a historic moment with purified air once again.
On the white grand altar, with tens of thousands of believers watching, Pope Gregorius IX raised his holy staff high.
"Azelia, symbol of mercy sent by God. You shall now heal the suffering and guide the lost sheep as the Saintess."
"Yes... I shall follow God's word."
Azelia knelt and received the Pope's blessing.
Then, a dazzling pillar of light descended from the sky of the sanctuary and enveloped her.
Dazzling pillars of light often pour down in Sanctuary Sola.
However, at this very moment, the light blessing the Saintess appeared to the believers as if God himself were blessing this investiture ceremony.
"Saintess Azelia-nim, God's representative..."
"Save us..."
The people filling the plaza raised their voices in praise in unison.
Azelia looked at them from the podium and made eye contact with Edric, who was standing in the audience far away.
Tears of joy welled up in her eyes.
But the investiture ceremony didn't end there. The Pope drew everyone's attention and proclaimed once more.
"From now on, I shall bestow the 'Golden Baptism' upon Sir Edric."
"Golden Baptism!?"
"Upon Sir Edric!!?"
At the news that he would bestow the Golden Baptism upon Edric, the believers and church members were all stirred up.
This story goes back to after the incident ended yesterday evening. After the incident concluded, Edric was summoned to the Pope's private reception room.
The Pope looked at Edric with eyes full of conviction and said.
"Sir Edric, you are truly a saint sent by God. Creating holy water without even having a Stigmata... this is something that requires rewriting the Church's history books."
The Pope's eyes were shining like a fanatic's. I felt like I was going crazy.
No, what kind of saint? I haven't been baptized, and I don't have a Stigmata!
"Your Holiness, I've told you several times, I am not a saint. I am just an ordinary civil servant(?) who serves the Prince and wishes for the peace of the Empire."
I desperately waved my hands. I was already dying from working overtime just with the Special Advisor position.
And now, they want to add some weird title like 'saint' or whatever on top of that?
Ah... I can see it... My future as a machine that pumps out holy water at the Papal See...
I desperately refused to prevent such a future.
"If you ever truly need my power for the Church, I will help at any time. But a saint? That is absurd."
"Ho ho, if you insist that much, I have no choice."
The Pope nodded with a benevolent smile. But his inner thoughts were different.
The scriptures say that a true saint denies being a saint until the end and descends to the lowest places.
Edric's appearance was the very image of a saint described in the scriptures.
'Sir Edric, you are truly the 'saint'.'
The Pope pretended to back down from Edric's stubbornness and made a proposal.
The Pope said with a benevolent smile.
"Ho ho, if that's the case, I will reserve the title of saint. Instead, I would like to bestow the 'Golden Baptism' upon you..."
"Golden Baptism... you say?"
"Yes, this is the minimum courtesy for your achievements, so please do not refuse."
"Hmm..."
Golden Baptism... I didn't know the details about the Church, so I didn't really know what the Golden Baptism was.
Just that it was a baptism the Princess really wanted to receive?
I wanted to refuse this too, but I felt like my relationship with the Pope would sour if I refused this as well, so I reluctantly bowed my head.
"In the name of the light created by God, I bestow the Golden Baptism upon Sir Edric Noel..."
Thus, after the Saintess Investiture Ceremony ended, Edric received the Golden Baptism from the Pope.
The Pope sprinkled holy water on Edric, and the holy water that flowed down Edric's forehead began to shine with a golden light, reflecting the sunlight.
Watching that, many church members felt a different kind of emotion than they did with the Saintess.
And later, Edric would find out. That this 'Golden Baptism' is the highest authority baptism given only to those of Cardinal rank or higher, and that the person who receives it is recognized as the proxy of the priest who gave the baptism.
In other words, that day, Edric became the Pope's proxy without even knowing it.
At that time, the temporary ward within the sanctuary.
Under the soft sunlight streaming through the window, Prince Leopold was guarding the bedside.
Sister Cale was lying on the bed with a peaceful face.
Although Sister Cale had been wounded by the assassins, her wounds were all healed thanks to the Saintess's blessing and Edric's holy water. However, she had been in a deep sleep for two days.
The Prince quietly looked at Cale's sleeping hand.
He recalled her appearance as she wouldn't let go of her spear even while being battered to protect Azelia.
That appearance overlapped with the image of his mother, who had thrown her whole body to protect him from assassins when he was young.
Even now, when he closes his eyes, it comes to mind.
The image of his mother fighting to protect him with a decorative spear against assassins...
It was the Prince's most unforgettable memory, and his mother's final appearance that he could never forget.
'That day, I couldn't do anything and just cried... but this time, I was able to save her.'
But it was different from back then. He was not alone, and he was able to save Cale.
By saving her, he was able to save himself.
The Prince thanked Edric, the Saintess, and everyone who helped him be here right now, and held Cale's hand.
Just then, Cale's fingers trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Are you awake?"
"Pri... nce... nim? Where is this... Is Azelia-nim safe?"
"Everyone is safe. The investiture ceremony just ended successfully, too. It's thanks to you risking your life to protect the Saintess."
"I see... so everyone is safe."
At the Prince's words, Cale smiled faintly as if relieved.
That sight looked so dazzling to the Prince's eyes.
"Are you okay? Is there anywhere that hurts?"
"I'm fine, Prince-nim..."
"Is that so... That's a relief."
After that, a moment of silence followed. Cale realized the situation and felt very awkward.
The Prince and she had only met a few times while following Azelia.
Such a high-ranking person sticking right by her side and looking at her with a genuinely worried expression made her feel troubled.
"Thank you for showing such concern for an ordinary nun like me, Your Highness."
"An ordinary nun, what are you talking about? I stayed by your side because I like you."
"... Pardon?"
At that moment, Cale's eyes widened. Cale even thought that her hearing had gone wrong because of the Dead King's poison.
Prince Leopold held her hand tightly and continued seriously.
"I have fallen for you, Cale... Could you be my lover?"
"Pri... nce-nim..."
Cale's head couldn't keep up with the Prince's sudden confession. The Church was generous about nuns marrying, but still, the top priority was serving God.
To her, who had intended to devote her body to the Saintess, the Prince's confession was enough to cause a brain freeze.
"Prince-nim... am I still dreaming right now?"
"It's not a dream, it's a clear reality!"
"But... I am a nun and Your Highness is..."
"That is not important. What is important is that I adore you!"
Cale looked at the Prince. The blonde, white-horse-riding prince from a fairy tale was looking at her with sparkling eyes.
Cale blushed and looked away, feeling flustered and having a pounding heart.
"Your Highness... it's so sudden that I cannot give you an answer right now."
"I... see..."
At Cale's words, the Prince's expression darkened. But at the same time, Cale smiled and continued.
"So... how about we start as friends?"
"Friends, you say?"
"Yes... friends who ask after each other and worry about each other..."
"That's great! Friends or whatever, let's start with whatever you allow!"
At the Prince's bright answer, Cale finally burst into a small laugh.
The light of the sanctuary shone on the Prince and Cale as if smiling at them.
Meanwhile, on the terrace outside the hospital room. Edric and Azelia, who were watching the pink atmosphere between the two through the slightly opened window, smiled contentedly.
"It worked out really well, Edric-nim. I didn't know Prince-nim would speak with such courage."
"That's right. It seems spring is coming for both the future of the Empire and the Prince's love life."
Azelia and I, having finished the investiture ceremony and the baptism, came to see Cale and the Prince.
And seeing the good atmosphere, we didn't disturb them and cheered for the two from outside.
Wow, is this really a romance fantasy novel? The confession scene between the Prince and Cale really looked like a scene from a novel.
As I stretched and thought that another big task was finished, Azelia grabbed my sleeve tightly as if she had made up her mind.
"Edric-nim."
"Hmm?"
"I will also gather my courage. I really like you, Edric-nim. How do you feel about me?"
No! You're coming out with this here!?"
I was flustered by Azelia's sudden straightforward confession. I looked at Azelia. She was emitting a beautiful and pure white light, looking at me earnestly.
She was truly too good for me, but her gaze was sincere. I didn't avoid it and spoke honestly.
"I like you too, Azelia... But I already have Natalya. Is that still okay?"
It was a trashy answer that openly stated I wanted to start a harem... but it was my honest inner feeling.
At my words, Azelia gripped my hand tighter and nodded.
"It's okay. Rather than losing you, Edric-nim, if I can watch over you by your side... if we can be truly happy together... I don't mind."
"Azelia..."
The sunset of the sanctuary dyed the two of them red. Edric could not take his eyes off the Saintess's eyes, which were looking at him with all her heart.
He slowly approached and kissed her on the forehead, and then carefully on the lips.
In the white Sanctuary Sola, new bonds as brilliant as the birth of a new Saintess were blooming.